Chain-grate-stoker link



May 27, 1924,

J. F. HOLLIDAY ET AL CHAIN GRATE STOKER LINK Filed Nov. 13, 1923ATTORNEYS JOHN FLETCHER HOLLIDAY, OF LIVERPOOL, AND CHRIS MILLARD ACRES,OF NEW 7 .FERRY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE BABCOCK & WILGOX COMPAN ONNE,NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW ERSEY.

Y, OF BAY- CHAIN-GRATE-STOKER LINK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN FLETCHER HoLLIoAY. of 22 Regina Road,Aintree,.

Liverpool, England, and CHRIs MILLARD Aonns, of 56 Port Causeway,Bromborough Port, New'Ferry, Cheshire, England, subjects of the King ofGreat Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inChain-Grate-Stoker Links, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to links for chain grate stokers of the usualtype, in whiohthe links are connected by rods passing through openingsin the ends of the several links. The usual type of link has a closedeye surrounding the rods, so that when the replacing of such a linkbecomes necessary, the rods must be'withdrawn through adjacent links totree the link to be withdrawn and replaced, and this is a ratherdifiicult operation.

By our invention we provide a link which can be replaced in a chaingrate at any point across the grate without disturbing the adjacentlinks.

Our invention will be best understood from the annexed drawing in, whichFig. 1 isa side elevation, partly broken away, showing an illustrativeembodiment of our invention; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan viewof the link shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are side and end views,respectively,'of one of the pin-holding members shown in Fig. 1,

and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating aportion of the chain.

Like reference characters indicate like parts in the several views.

In the particular arrangement illustrated, the link 10 has the usual airchannels 11 and the distance piece 12. The lower part of the link isprovided at either end'with a pocket 13 located medial of thecross-section of the link and extending in from the bottom, the sides ofthe link being thickened to form the walls 14,14: at either side of thepocket. Through these walls extend pins 15,011 each of which is pivoteda member 16 through the hole 17, these members having the shape bestshown in Fig. 5, with the center of mass to the right and below the hole17 as viewed in Fig. 5, so that the member 16 tends to swing bygravityiclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 5, so that the vertical edges-ofthe coacting members 10 normally tend to separate, and when the link isplaced in position on the chain rods, the lower ends of the members aresufficiently separated to permit the notches 21 in the link to passdownwardly over the chain rods 20. As will be noted particularly in Fig.6, the inember 16 is also given a slight taper so that it is thicker-atthe bottom 18 than at the top 19 the thickness at the bottom being suchthat that end of the member 16 will have a tight fit between the sidewalls of the pocket 13 when the member 16 is swung to the dotted linepositions shown at the righthand end of Fig. 1. Each of the members 16is also provided with a semi-circular recess 20*, the center of which isin line with the vertical end of the part 18. The upper part 19 of themember 16 is shaped more or less as a horn, so that when the members 16are swungto their open position, as shown in dotted lines at the right01 Fig. .1, so as to move the straight portions far enough apart topermit the chain rod 20 to pass into thenotches21 formed in the sidewalls 1 1, these horns will project down into the space finally to beoccupied by the rod 20. By pressing on the link,--these horns engagewith the upper part of the rod and swing the lower portions 18 into theclosed position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, thus locking the'link onthe'rod 20. By reason of the fact that the thickness of the part 18causes a tight fit in the slot 13, the members 16 are restrained fromswinging backward on their pivots 15 when the link is on thelower run ofthe chain sufliciently to permit the links to drop from the chain. Inother words, while there may be a limited amount of movement of themember 16, it is insuflicient to free them from the chain rod 20.Similarly, the link may be removed by inserting a. chisel. between thelower ends of the members 16 and pressing them apart to the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 1.

e claim 1. In a chain grate stoker having links connected'by cross rods,a link having a rod notch in each of its end portions and open tov theexterior thereof to permit a rod to enter the notch, and a rod-engagingmember pivotally supported on the link and having an end portion adaptedto extend having an end portion adapted to extend beneath the rod insaid rod notch, when the member is turned on. its pivot, said memherhaving a surface adapted to engage the link frictionally when the memberis turned to move its end portion out of alignment with the rod notch.

3. In a chain grate stoker having links connected by cross rods, a linkhaving a rod notch in each of its end portions and open to the exteriorthereof to permit a rod to enter the notch, and a pair of rod-engagingmembers pivotally supported on the link on opposite sides of the rodnotch and each having an end portion adapted to extend beneath the rodin said rod notch when the members are turned on their pivots.

4. In a chain grate stoker having links connected by cross rods, a linkhaving a rod notch in each of its end portions and open to the exteriorthereof to permit a rod to enter the notch, and a pair of rod engagingmembers pivotally supported on the link on opposite sides of the rodnotch and each having an. end portion adapted to extend beneath the rodin said rod notch when the members are turned on their pivots, each ofsaid members having a surface adapted to engage the link frictionallywhen the link member is turned to move its end portion out of alignmentwith the rod notch.

5. In a chain grate stoker having links connected by cross rods, a linkhaving a medial pocket in each of its end portions and open to theexterior thereof, a rod notch in each of the walls of said pocket andopen to the exterior of the link to permit a rod to enter the notch, anda rodengaging member in said pocket and pivot ally connected to thelink, said member having an end portion adapted to extend beneath therod in said rod notch when the member is turned on its pivot 6, In achain grate stoker having links connected by cross rods, a link having amedial pocket in each of its endportions and open to the exteriorthereof, a rod notch in each of the walls of said pocket and open to theexterior of the link to permit a rod to enter the'notch, and arod-engaging member in said pocket and pivotally connected to the link,said member having an end portion adapted to extend beneath the rod insaid rod notch when the member is turned on its pivot, said memberhaving its end portion of a thickness to give tight lit between thewalls of said pocket when the member is turned to move said end portionout of alignment with the rod notch.

7. in chain grate stoker having links connected by cross rods, a linkhaving amedia], pocket in. each of its end portions and open to theexterior thereof, a rod notch in each'of the walls of said pocket andopen to the exterior of the link to per- .nnt rod to enter the notch,and a pair of rod-engaging members in said pocket and pivoiallysupported on the link on opposite sides of the rod notch and each havingan end portion adapted to extend beneath the rod in said rod notch whenthe members are turned on their pivots.

8, In a chain grate stoker having links connected by cross rods, alinkhavii'ig a medial pocket in each of its end portions and open to theexterior thereof, a rod notch in each of the walls of said pocket andopen to the exterior of the link to permit a rod to enter the notch, anda pair of rod-engaging members in said pocket and pivotally supported onthe link on opposite sides of the rod notch and each having an endportion adapted to extend beneath the rod in said rod notch when themembers are turned on their pivots each of said members having its saidend portion of a thickness to give a tight fit between the walls of saidnotch when the member is turned to move said. end portion out ofalignment with the rod notch.

9. in a chain grate stoker having links connected by cross rods, a linkhaving a medial pocket in each of its end portions and open to theexterior thereof, a rod notch in each of the walls of said pocket andopen to the exterior of the link to permit a rod to enter the notch, anda rod-engaging member in said pocket and pivotally connected to the linkat one side of said rod notch, said member having a lower end below thepivot adapted to extend beneath the rod in said rod notch when themember is turned On its pivot and having an upper end above the pivotadapted to extend across the rod notch when the member is turned on itspivot to move the lower end of said member ont of alignmentwith the rodnotch,

10 In a chain grate stoker having links connected by crossrods, a linkll ving a medial pocket in each of its end portions and open to theexterior thereof, a rod notch in each of the walls of said pocket andopen to the exterior of the link to permit a rod to enter the notch, anda rod-engaging member in said pocket and pivotally connected to the linkat one side of said rod notch, said member having a lower end below thepivot adapted'to extend beneath the rod in said rod notch when themember is turned on its pivot and havlng an upper end above the pivotadapted to extend across the rod notch when the mem her is turned on itspivot to move the lower end of said member outof alignment with the rodnotch and said lower end having a thickness to give a tight fit betweenthe walls of said pocket when the member is turned to move said endportion out of alignment with the rod notch.

11. In a chain grate stoker having links connected by cross rods, a linkhaving a medial pocket in each of its end portions and open to theexterior thereof, a rod notch in each of the walls of said pocket andopen to the exterior of the link to permit a rod to enter the notch, anda pair of rodengaging members in said pocket and pivotally connected tothe link at opposite sides of said rod notch, each of said membershaving a lower end below the pivot adapted to extend beneath the rod insaid rod notch when the member is turned on its pivot and having anupper end above the pivot adapted to extend across the rod notch whenthe member is turned on its pivot to move the lower end of said memberout of alignment with the rod notch.

12. In a chain grate stoker having links connected by cross rods, a linkhaving a medial pocket in each of its end portions and open to theexterior thereof, a rod notch in each of the walls of said pocket andopen to the exterior of the link to permit a rod to enter the notch, anda pair of rod-engaging members in said pocket and pivotally connected tothe link at opposite sides of said rod notch, each of said membershaving a lower end below the pivot adapted to extend beneath the rod insaid rod notch when the member is turned on its pivot and having anupper end above the pivot adapted to extend across the rod notch whenthe member is turned on its pivot to move the lower end of said membeerout of alignment with the rod notch and said lower end of each of saidmembers having a thickness to ive a tight fit between the walls of saidpocket when the member is turned ,to move said end portion out ofalignment with the rod notch.

JOHN FLETCHER HOLLIDAY. CHRIS MILLARD ACRES.

Witnesses:

A. J. DAVIS, W. JEFF.

